Gas Dryer Flexible Line Problems

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The exhaust outlet in the bottom of a dryer seldom lines up with the vent opening in the wall or ceiling, and because they're easy to manipulate, homeowners often use flexible vent pipes to make the connection. These pipes can be dangerous if they're made of foil or plastic.

Corrugations Are Lint Traps

One of the basic problems with corrugated flexible pipes is the corrugations themselves -- they catch lint. As the lint builds up in the pipe, the dryer has to work harder to expel warm air, and it can overheat. The hot air that then comes out of the exhaust can ignite the trapped lint, and if the pipes are made of foil or plastic, they can also ignite. The result could be one of the 2,900 dryer fires that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency notes happen every year.

Flexible Pipes Can Kink

The space behind a dryer is usually limited, and flimsy flexible hoses can kink. The obstruction this causes can overheat the dryer as badly as a lint build-up, and the foil or plastic hoses can ignite. The International Residential Code requires all dryer ducts to be made of rigid metal. If you can't fit a conventional rigid duct behind your dryer, a code-compliant alternative is to use an adjustable periscoping duct -- which is designed to fit in confined spaces -- to make the connection. Make sure it's installed by a licensed professional, to help ensure proper functioning.

About the Author

Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies.